6 C I A R

"A boyfriend?" Alessandra asked as she helped Gabby with her things. "And you actually forgot to tell grandmother?" After assisting her with her belongings, Alessandra also helped open the car door for Gabby before she hopped on the front seat.

"You know how she is…" Gabby casually said as she looked out of the window.

"This boyfriend… he said he wanted to meet your family but you refused to bring him around. Don't you think that's unfair for him?" Alessandra asked as Ryan slowly drove the car out of the hospital parking lot.

"Unfair?" Gabby mumbled. Sebastian really had to weave a very nice story about Gabby being the one who refused to bring him around and introduce him to her family. "I just had my engagement canceled," Gabby said. Almost immediately, it made the atmosphere tense.

This was Gabby's intention all along. She could sense Ryan's gaze from the rearview mirror but ignored it. She was telling the truth. She just had her engagement canceled.

"Still, Seb deserves better…"

"You should stop calling him by his name," Gabby said, her tone cold.

"Really? Gabby?"

Gabby pursed her lips. She could easily say that Alessandra started calling Ryan 'Ryry' after their first meeting. Look at them now?

However, she did not want Ryan to kick her out of the car, and honestly? Gabby thought it was no longer worth it.

"Take me to the office," Gabby said.

"The doctor said—"

"It's fine… I am fine," Gabby said. Surprisingly, she did not have any concussion from that explosion. However, this was not a part of her concern. For the first time in days, her clingy 'boyfriend' finally left! He told her he needed to make some arrangements in advance.

"Gabby, I can take care of you." Alessandra let out a sigh. "I know you are hesitant—"

"I am not," Gabby turned towards her twin sister. "I still have some things to do at the facility."

"But you just got out of the hospital," Alessandra said.

"And?"

"Aren't you supposed to be resting right now?"

"Well… I am not." Gabby turned towards Ryan. "Please take me to CIAR." CIAR, or The Chronos Institute for Archaeological Research, is where Gabby has been working for the past few years. This is where she met Dr. Gomez, a Senior research personnel who then became the head of their department.

Over the years, Gabby had climbed up the ladder. She is now the Junior Researcher and is directly working under Dr. Gomez— the late Dr. Gomez.

The thought of the late Dr. Gomez only worsened her mood. Somehow, the older man's joke about mummies didn't seem to be that cringey after all. "You are pregnant, just focus on your child," Gabby added before turning her attention outside of the car. She didn't want them to blame her if something happened to her sister or her baby.

Besides, if Werewolves are indeed hunting her, then getting close to the pregnant Alessandra would soon become a problem.

Gabby hated these two, but not enough for her to wish ill for their unborn child.

"Alright," Ryan said. "Since she wanted to work, you should let her," Ryan said to Alessandra. "Besides, you have been very stressed lately. You are pregnant, it is time that you focus on yourself."

Alessandra did not answer, and for a few minutes, silence wrapped around them like a cocoon— something that Gabby preferred to do more than act cordial with her sister and ex.

Finally, the car stopped at the gates of the large facility.

"Thanks…"

"Are you coming home for dinner? I am going to prepare something—"

"No." Gabby gave a curt answer. "Sebastian will prepare something for me." She gave a seamless lie.

"Of course," Alessandra nodded.

Watching the car move away from her, Gabby let out a loud sigh. The only reason why she was still cordial with Alessandra was because of their grandmother. However, talking to her twin is exhausting. She turned around and marched towards the large building where CIAR was located.

The Chronos Institute for Archaeological Research (CIAR) occupied a grand old building in downtown Chicago. It was an older building that used to be a warehouse which had been repurposed and turned into what it is now. Made of red brick with large glass windows, the building was the house of many research departments.

The moment she walked in, she was immediately greeted by a spacious lobby. "Mariam!" Gabby greeted the middle-aged receptionist.

"Miss Lockwood! My god, what are you doing here?" the woman's smile vanished when she realized that Gabby was there. She bobbed her head up and down as she examined Gabby. "You are supposed to be resting!" the redhead added.

"I received your flowers… thank you. Perhaps that's the reason why I already feel fine?" Gabby smiled and ignored the woman's exaggerated expression. Mariam was well known for her reactions. "Is anyone around?" After the thievery, they were advised to stay at home for a few days to give time to the company to fix everything.

"No. Uh… nothing from your department. The Director is here talking to— Ah! This reminds me…" Mariam took a folder from her drawer. "I was told to give this to you when you come… next week." Mariam emphasized the words 'next week.' "You know? Five days from now?"

Gabby only gave the woman an awkward laugh. "Thanks… " she looked at the folder and bid the receptionist goodbye before she walked towards the elevator to the right.

She quickly pressed the number three before she opened the folder.

"Huh?"

The folder Gabby received likely contained information about a new collaborative project between CIAR and a well-known pharmaceutical company called A and Co Pharmaceuticals.

This collaboration was something that the personnel from A and Co requested her to be a part of. Gabby frowned as she thought of A and Co. A and Co. is a company based in Alaska and is one of the largest Pharmaceutical companies in Northern America.

Why would they suddenly collaborate with CIAR?

*DING*

Gabby walked out of the elevator only for her step to falter when she spotted someone familiar in the lobby.

"Ah! Perfect!" Director Timothy Wilson smiled when he saw Gabby walk out of the elevator. "Dr. Lockwood, please come here…"

Gabby blinked as her gaze landed on the man who towered over the director of CIAR.

"Dr. Lockwood was just in an accident, and she was expected to come next week, but as you can see, she is already back." Dr. Timothy smiled.

He then turned to the stranger. "Dr. Lockwood, this is Mr. Sebastian Devereux, CEO of A and Co Pharmaceuticals. He'll be working closely with you from now on."

A flicker of surprise crossed Gabby's face as Sebastian's eyes met hers. Standing beside the Director, extending a hand towards her, was none other than Sebastian Devereux. The very same Sebastian who'd been acting like her loving boyfriend just hours ago.

Her surprise sparked a flicker across her face, but Gabby quickly schooled her features into a mask of cool indifference. "

It's nice to meet you, Mr. Devereux," she said, her voice calm.

Sebastian's smile, however, remained unfazed. "Sebastian," he corrected, his voice smooth and charming. "Please, call me Sebastian."